Rich Archbold: Team 100 works to feed needy kids

The broad smile on Maria Meza's face was all the thanks needed for those who have helped with the Food for Kids program in Long Beach.

Maria beamed as she and her 8-year-old son, Alexander, were handed a bag of groceries by Leticia Keller, the administrative secretary at International Elementary School, 700 Locust Ave. in downtown Long Beach.

The groceries will help Maria, a single mother who is struggling financially, to feed Alexander and her two teenage boys over the weekend.

"Thank you, thank you, gracias," she said repeatedly.

The thanks should go to Team 100, a grass-roots organization of 100 men created last September with the goal of eliminating hunger for elementary school students in Long Beach's low-income areas on weekends. Many students receive free and reduced-price food at school Monday through Friday, but they don't always get healthy food on weekends.

Team 100 is part of the Volunteer Center's Food for Kids program serving the Long Beach and South Bay areas. Spearheading the effort is Jim Grubbs, vice president, development of the Volunteer Center and Team 100 president.

As a pilot project, Team 100 adopted International Elementary School because all of the more than 700 students are classified as "economically disadvantaged" by state standards.

Principal Kim Baril knows firsthand of the need for students to get healthy food on weekends.

"We are so appreciative of the food we are getting from Team 100. It really is filling a big need," she said. Each week Team 100 members deliver about 100 bags of groceries filled with vegetables, canned fruits, cereal and other healthy items.

Last September, Team 100 committed to supplying Principal Baril with enough groceries to keep at least 15 families from going hungry over the weekend.

"We've kept that commitment, and now we are helping to feed 20 families, or about 100 people, each weekend," Grubbs said.

The need is daunting. About 68 percent of students in the Long Beach Unified School District qualify for California's free or reduced- price lunch program. The average for students qualifying statewide is 55 percent.

But the size of the task doesn't scare Team 100.

"We have big aspirations," said Arley Baker, Team 100 board member. "We're proud of what we've done, but we are eager to expand the program even more. The need is great."

To raise more substantial funds for the program, Team 100 will be holding its first annual Blue Martini Ball at the Long Beach Yacht Club on Saturday.

"The Blue Martini Ball promises to be a night to remember and the start of a great annual Long Beach tradition," Baker said. Tickets are by invitation only.

Grubbs said the level of community support for the event has been "phenomenal."

"This is how the community comes together to help put food on the table for some of our town's most underprivileged children and their families," he said.

Tax-deductible donations to Team 100's Food for Kids program in Long Beach can be made at www.volcenter.org/donate. For more information, call 310-212-5009.